usatvline Chapter 80 Reluctance
Chapter 80 Reluctance
Chapter 80 080 Reluctance
The sudden arrival of Chunyu Yang and Chunyu Shan alarmed the entire Marquis's residence. Upon learning that the young prince was at the residence, the two princes came to greet him personally. Marquis Anshi, who was discussing the autumn imperial examination with Ye Yanxun in his study, was quite startled and hurriedly went to the main hall to receive them.
At this moment, in the main hall, apart from Gongsun Yuan and Ye Pianran, everyone else came to greet and pay their respects to the two unexpected princes. After bowing, they stepped aside. Aunt Song looked at Prince Beiwu and Prince Dongxu with the eyes of wolves that had been starving all winter, wishing that Ye Wenjin would be chosen by both of them.
Because of the injury on her face, Ye Bijun's gaze, though not as blatant as Aunt Song's, was still shy and hesitant, and she would occasionally glance at Chunyu Shan.
The Sixth Prince, Chunyu Shan, is handsome and dashing, and is one of the famous "Five Gentlemen of the Capital". If one could marry him, even as a concubine, it would be an extremely honorable thing!
Cursing under his breath at the disgrace, Marquis Anshi smiled at Chunyu Yang and Chunyu Shan, saying, "Today, it should have been me, Ye, visiting the Third Prince at the Prince's residence. I never expected that the Prince would personally come to our door. This is extremely impolite and disrespectful."
“It is I who should thank the Marquis,” Chunyu Yang said indifferently. “My son’s willful departure has caused trouble for the Marquis and the household.”
"Not at all, not at all. It's our honor to take care of the young master for Your Highness." A bead of sweat appeared on Marquis Anshi's forehead. If the prince knew that the young master had been carried back in a box, would he still be so polite to them?
Turning to look at the steward, Marquis Anshi asked, "Where is the heir apparent?"
The steward said, "Your Highness, after the young master entered the manor, he was taken back to Lanxin Courtyard by the eldest young lady and the madam."
Lanxin Courtyard, it's Lanxin Courtyard again! Aunt Song was nearly driven mad with jealousy. If only she had gone to wait outside the gate earlier, otherwise it wouldn't have been that mother and daughter from Lanxin Courtyard who encountered the Prince of Beiwu, but her own Wenjin!
"Why haven't they arrived yet? How can they be so rude with the two princes here! Have you sent someone to urge them on?" Marquis Anshi was somewhat displeased with Ye Pianran and Gongsun Yuan's tardiness.
The butler said, "I've already sent someone to urge them on; they should be on their way right now."
Chunyu Shan swung open his folding fan and gently shook it, looking expectantly towards the door. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen this independent and unconventional young lady of the Marquis's mansion since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. He wondered how the injuries on her face had healed after all this time.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside, and a moon-white hem fluttered gently. Then, Ye Pianran, carrying the sleeping Chunyu Jingxuan, and Gongsun Yuan slowly stepped into the room together.
Seeing Chunyu Jingxuan's contented sleeping face, Chunyu Yang's brows relaxed. His gaze lingered for a moment on the hand that was tightly gripping Ye Pianran's clothes before turning to Gongsun Yuan, who was walking in front of Ye Pianran.
Is this beautiful woman with skin as smooth as jade and a face as lovely as a flower the Lady of the Marquis's mansion, Gongsun Yuan? Look at her now, full of energy, without any sign of illness. She has indeed been cured of the poison and has completely regained her former radiance.
Chunyu Yang couldn't help but feel a little surprised. Only a little over half a month had passed since Ye Pianran became an apprentice at Fenxiang Academy. How could Ye Pianran have restored Gongsun Yuan to her former state in such a short time?
"This humble woman greets the Third Prince and the Sixth Prince." As Ye Pianran approached Chunyu Yang and Chunyu Shan, she bent down to perform a proper greeting, but Chunyu Shan quickly said:
"No need for formalities. You're holding the young prince, so make sure he doesn't fall."
"Thank you, Sixth Prince." Ye Pianran straightened up and said with a mix of helplessness and apology, "The young master played in my daughter's courtyard for a while and was probably exhausted. We couldn't wake him up no matter what we did, so we arrived a little late. I hope you two princes will forgive us."
"It's alright. I should thank you for taking care of Xuan'er." Chunyu Yang's expression softened slightly, and he nodded to her to express his gratitude.
"Young Master is being naughty; Miss, you've had a hard time." Butler Zhong walked forward with a smile, reaching out to take Chunyu Jingxuan back. Chunyu Jingxuan seemed to sense this, his grip on Ye Pianran's hand tightening involuntarily. He frowned, muttering with considerable dissatisfaction, "Sister, no, I'm sleepy..."
Upon hearing this address, not only the people in the Marquis's mansion, but even Chunyu Yang himself was extremely shocked.
Aunt Song and Ye Bijun in the crowd were seething with hatred. In just a few hours, the young master had become so close to Ye Pianran? What kind of bewitching magic had Ye Pianran used to bewitch the young master?
Feeling the strange looks from everyone, Ye Pianran's expression became slightly awkward. It was fine for Chunyu Jingxuan to call her that in Lanxin Courtyard, but to do so in front of the Northern Martial King would place her on equal footing with the prince, which was rather inappropriate.
Gently patting Chunyu Jingxuan's back, Ye Pianran called out, "Young Master, the Prince has come to take you back to the Prince's Mansion."
Upon hearing the words "Prince's Residence," Chunyu Jingxuan finally opened his eyes groggily. He immediately saw Chunyu Yang's cold and stern face, and Chunyu Jingxuan instantly became alert, calling out guiltily, "Father... Father King..."
"Did you have a good time?" Chunyu Yang asked. His voice was very calm, but to Chunyu Jingxuan it was as terrifying as thunder.
With his head drooping, Chunyu Jingxuan said, "Okay..."
“Then let’s go back to the manor,” Chunyu Yang said.
Chunyu Jingxuan reluctantly let go of Ye Pianran's clothes and opened his arms to let Butler Zhong pick him up.
"Now that my son has been found, I will not disturb you any longer. Farewell." Having personally witnessed the recovery of the Marquis's wife, Chunyu Yang had achieved his goal for this trip. He nodded slightly to Marquis Anshi and then turned and left with Chunyu Jingxuan.
"They're leaving already?" Chunyu Shan was dumbfounded. Was his third brother really here to take Xuan'er back to the manor? Why had he never seen his third brother so concerned about Xuan'er before? Completely puzzled, Chunyu Shan tapped his palm with his folding fan, flashed a smile at Ye Pianran, and quickly chased after Chunyu Yang.
"Respectfully seeing off the two princes." The people of the Marquis's residence all bowed down in unison.
Chunyu Jingxuan leaned on Butler Zhong's shoulder, watching Ye Pianran getting further and further away from him, and quietly clenched his fist.
Inside the Prince's carriage, Chunyu Jingxuan sat nervously on the cushions, constantly glancing at Chunyu Yang, who remained silent. Seeing Chunyu Jingxuan's anxious and hesitant expression, Chunyu Shan couldn't help but chuckle and said:
"Third brother, look at Xuan'er, isn't he much more well-behaved than before after his visit to the Marquis's residence?"
Chunyu Yang's gaze swept indifferently over Chunyu Jingxuan's taut body, without uttering a word. Seeing the obvious disappointment in his eyes, Chunyu Jingxuan's nose stung, and he lowered his head, muttering:
"Father, I know I was wrong. I will study military strategy carefully when I get back and not let you down."
“I know you feel I’m being too demanding of you. If you really don’t want to learn, I won’t force you,” Chunyu Yang said.
Seeing that Chunyu Jingxuan looked like he was about to cry, Chunyu Yang felt that his tone might have been a bit harsh, so he softened his voice and said, "Jingxuan, your father does have high hopes for you, but your father also wants you to understand that even if you never achieve anything, your father will always protect you. Just tell me what you want and what you don't want, and I will do my best to satisfy you as long as it is within my power. There is no need to leave so willfully as you did today."
"Father, what Xuan'er said is true!" Chunyu Jingxuan reached out and grabbed Chunyu Yang's sleeve, his expression unusually firm. "Xuan'er will study military strategy well and become a hero as upright as Father, to shield Father from all swords and blades, and never let Father get hurt again!"
Chunyu Yang was taken aback, his face showing obvious surprise. Chunyu Shan tapped his palm with his folding fan and asked curiously, "Xuan'er, who taught you to say those words?"
“No one taught me to say this; this is what I think,” Chunyu Jingxuan said very seriously.
"Is that so?" Chunyu Shan's smile deepened, and he asked indirectly, "Did Xuan'er have a good time at the Marquis's residence just now? Did the eldest daughter of the Marquis's residence neglect you?"
"My elder sister..." The words slipped out, and Chunyu Jingxuan was so startled that he quickly covered his mouth, his eyes widening in alarm as he looked at Chunyu Yang. From a young age, the nannies in the manor had taught him to always remember his status as the heir apparent and to maintain royal dignity. Today, at the Marquis's residence, he had only followed suit because he envied the little fool. But in the Prince's residence, such a form of address was not permitted.
Knowing that Ye Pianran must have said something to make Chunyu Jingxuan suddenly realize something, Chunyu Shan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze becoming serious. He was indeed somewhat interested in this eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion. His third brother had also said he had no intention of taking a concubine, but if Xuan'er truly liked her, his third brother might...
With a slight smile, Chunyu Shan asked, "Would Xuan'er like to see the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion more often?"
Chunyu Jingxuan's eyes sparkled, and he nodded slightly.
“After a while, when your uncle takes her as his concubine, you can visit him at his residence often.” Chunyu Shan gently tapped Chunyu Jingxuan’s forehead with his folding fan and said, “When that time comes, Xuan’er, don’t call her by the wrong name, or your uncle will laugh at you.”
Chunyu Jingxuan stared blankly at Chunyu Shan until the carriage arrived at the Prince's Mansion and he was carried back to the backyard by Steward Zhong. He still hadn't recovered from the shock.
With his mind preoccupied, Chunyu Shan did not linger at the Northern Martial Prince's residence. After taking his horse from a guard, he rode off towards the palace. He passed through layers of palace gates, striding swiftly through the vast palace, and finally stopped outside the Shuchen Palace, where Consort Yu Shu resided.
Upon seeing him, the palace maids in Shuchen Palace rushed in with delight to announce, "Your Highness, the Sixth Prince has arrived!"
Chunyu Shan stepped into the hall and saw another figure sitting inside. He paused for a moment, then bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject greets Mother Consort and Your Majesty the Virtuous Consort."
Consort Yu was delighted to see him and extended her hand to him, saying, "How did you come at such a convenient time? Consort Xian and I were just talking about you."
Chunyu Shan smiled and placed his hand in Consort Yu Shu's hand. He knelt beside her and said, "No wonder my eyelids have been twitching all day. It turns out that Mother misses me."
"Sister, look at this mouth of yours, it's always been as sweet as honey since you were little," Consort Yu said to Consort Zhuang, beaming with delight.
Consort Zhuang looked extremely pale and exhausted. She coughed a few times and forced a smile, saying, "How wonderful, unlike Boyuan, who wouldn't even say a word to me."
Consort Zhuangxian was Chunyu Yang's birth mother. Chunyu Shan had been close to Chunyu Yang since childhood because their mothers were also very close sisters in the palace.
“Although my third brother is not talkative, he cares deeply about my aunt.” Chunyu Shan spoke up for his third brother, and seeing that Consort Zhuang looked unwell, he asked with some concern, “Is Consort Zhuang feeling any better?”